February 4, 2025
The bookstore that gives back
By Joy Rojas
In a time of e-books and online alternatives to magazines and newspapers, physical bookstores are a rarity.
Perhaps that’s why we’re instantly drawn to the few that still exist. For all the convenience of reading stories through our smartphones and computers, nothing beats the sensation of riffling your thumb through the pages of an actual paperback, or getting a whiff of its crisp new-book scent.
Located on the ground floor of Unity Hall in Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila, Jing Si Books & Café lives up to its English translation of “quiet contemplation” in so many ways.
“Peaceful” is how the bookstore’s attendant, Bea Mae Letrodo, describes her work place, a serene space whose glass walls and windows bring sunlight in, brightening up the room’s subtle colors and understated interiors in wood, metal, and concrete.
It’s a look that complements the bookstore’s finds. Sourced from Hualien, Taiwan, and a community in Palo, Leyte, they are all a reflection of Tzu Chi culture and way of life.
The ground floor is where you’ll see Tzu Chi founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s various books, including volumes of her Jing Si Aphorisms in English, Chinese, and Filipino. There are vegetarian food items ranging from teas to soups and snacks, as well as minimalist tea sets and heavy crystal Buddhas.
Upstairs, the shelves showcase the award-winning products from Tzu Chi’s DA.AI Technology—shoes, shirts, bags, and more made with fabric processed from discarded single-use plastic bottles. The items share shelf space with handmade creations by survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, Leyteños who, with the help of Tzu Chi volunteers, now earn a living sewing sturdy bags and pouches accented with neat cross-stitch designs.
Food items, says Letrodo, are the bookstore’s best-sellers. So are the white bowls with lids, particularly when the foundation holds big events that include meals.
Whatever you choose to purchase, know that you are making a difference in someone’s life. Proceeds from the bookstore’s sale support Tzu Chi’s various missions.
Jing Si Books & Café is open from 8 am to 5 pm. Visit Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus at 1000 Cordillera corner Lubiran Streets, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila.










